The Layoff Podcast with Fexingo: Severance, Job Loss, and Bouncing Back from Termination

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna dig into a question that rarely gets asked until it's too late: what happens when your severance agreement includes a non-compete clause? They walk through the real-world case of a mid-level product manager at a Boston tech firm who signed a standard severance package, only to discover that the non-compete barred her from working at any competi...

This episode digs into a specific severance trap: the non-solicit clause. Lucas and Luna walk through a real case of a marketing director who couldn't contact former clients for six months after her layoff. They explain what non-solicits typically cover, how they differ from non-competes, and three strategies you can use before signing: narrowing the definition of 'client', limiting the time windo...

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle one of the most stressful severance scenarios: being terminated for cause. They break down what 'for cause' actually means in legal terms, how it differs from being laid off, and why it may or may not disqualify you from severance. Using the example of a real case from 2025 involving a senior marketing director at a mid-sized tech firm,...

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna tackle a rarely discussed angle: what happens to your severance package when you relocate to another country. They walk through the case of a marketing manager who received a severance from a US employer while moving to Portugal, and explain the tax traps, legal hurdles, and practical steps like double-tax treaties, bank account co...

Episode 25 of The Layoff Podcast explores a fresh angle: using severance as seed capital to start a side business while you job search. Lucas and Luna walk through the story of a marketing manager who turned her $35,000 severance package into a freelance content agency, netting $5,000 per month within six months. They discuss the tax implications (severance is ordinary income, and self-employment...

Getting laid off is stressful enough. But when your severance check arrives significantly smaller than expected because of withholding surprises, it adds insult to injury. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the most common tax traps in severance packages — from supplemental wage withholding that can hit 22 percent automatically, to state-level surprises in California and New York, to the y...

Episode 23 of The Layoff Podcast digs into a common but confusing layoff scenario: when your job title disappears entirely, not just you. Lucas and Luna walk through a real case from a mid-size tech firm where 12 people in a 'customer success enablement' role all got laid off at once, even the top performer. They explain why role elimination changes your severance leverage, how to frame the story...

When you're laid off, severance can feel like a safety net — or a trap. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how to use severance strategically to fund a career change, not just a job search. They break down a real case: a marketing manager who used her 12-week severance to complete a data science bootcamp and land a role with a 30% salary increase. They discuss how to budget severance for educ...

When you're laid off and have stock options or RSUs, your severance isn't just cash — it's tied to equity that could be worth a lot more. Lucas and Luna break down the rules around vesting, exercise windows, and tax elections, using the real-world example of a mid-level engineering manager at a late-stage startup who left $80,000 on the table by missing a 90-day exercise deadline. Learn what to as...

Lucas and Luna break down what happens to your severance package if your employer files for bankruptcy before paying you. Using the real-world case of Bed Bath & Beyond's 2023 collapse and the subsequent fight over severance claims by former employees, they explain the difference between secured and unsecured claims, why many severance agreements become worthless in Chapter 11, and the one clause...

When your company gets acquired, everything changes — including your severance. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through what happens to severance agreements during mergers and acquisitions, using the real-world example of the 2021 acquisition of Slack by Salesforce. They explain why change-of-control clauses exist, how severance policies shift when a new owner takes over, and what employees s...

In Episode 18 of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of job loss: how to present it to future employers. They walk through a specific case study of a marketing manager who was laid off after three years and how she reframed her experience to land six interviews in two weeks. Lucas shares concrete before-and-after resume bullets, LinkedIn profile tweaks,...

Episode 17 of The Layoff Podcast tackles the unique challenges independent contractors face when a contract ends without severance. Lucas and Luna explore the legal landscape, the myth of implied severance for freelancers, and practical steps to protect your income. They dive into the 2023 case of a freelance graphic designer who sued for wrongful termination in California and won a settlement, hi...

Episode 16 of The Layoff Podcast tackles a gap many severance guides ignore: what happens when you’re a freelancer, contractor, or solopreneur who gets cut loose. Lucas and Luna walk through the case of a graphic designer who lost a major retainer client with no notice and no severance. They discuss how independent workers can build informal severance cushions into their contracts, why the standar...

Episode 15 of The Layoff Podcast tackles a scary but little-known reality: severance clawbacks. Lucas and Luna break down real cases where companies demanded repayment of severance after a layoff — including one involving a tech firm that issued clawback letters six months post-termination. They explain what triggers a clawback clause, how to spot it in your agreement before signing, and why the '...

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle a high-stakes scenario that many laid-off workers face: the moment your severance ends and you're still uninsured. They break down the timeline of COBRA continuation coverage — why the 60-day election window is both a trap and a lifeline, how to estimate the true cost of COBRA versus a marketplace plan, and the one strategic delay that c...

Getting laid off is tough, but the interview question 'Why did you leave your last job?' can be even tougher — especially when a severance and a non-disparagement agreement are involved. In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down how to handle the severance question in interviews without violating your legal agreement. They cover the three-part honesty strategy, why you shoul...

When a company gets acquired, severance gets complicated fast. Lucas and Luna walk through what happens when your job is eliminated in a merger, using the real case of Acme Tech's acquisition by BigCo in early 2026. They break down change-of-control clauses, how to check if your severance plan survives the deal, and the one number you need to find in your offer letter before you sign. Plus: why re...

Episode 11 of The Layoff Podcast tackles a practical challenge: how to structure your job search around your severance timeline. Lucas and Luna break down the median severance duration of 8 weeks, explain the risk of signing an offer before severance runs out, and walk through a specific strategy — the 'severance straddle' — for timing interviews and start dates. They also discuss how severance af...

Episode 10 of The Layoff Podcast tackles a high-stress situation: your employer wants your severance signature within 24 to 48 hours. Lucas and Luna walk through the real case of a former Amazon HR manager who was given a Friday afternoon ultimatum and had to decide by Monday morning. They break down the legal reality—most severance agreements have a mandatory 21-day review window under federal la...

In Episode 9 of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a surprising and often overlooked angle: what happens if you've already signed your severance agreement but later realize you left money on the table. They dig into the legal concept of 'rescission' — the window in which a signed contract can be unwound — and walk through a real example from a former marketing director at a mid-sized tech...

Episode 8 of The Layoff Podcast with Fexingo digs into the fine print that catches many off guard: the non-compete clause inside a severance agreement. Hosts Lucas and Luna walk through a real 2023 case where a mid-level marketing manager at a consumer goods firm was barred from working in her entire industry for 18 months — and how she negotiated it down to 6. They break down the difference betwe...

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna discuss how the structure of a severance package often reveals more about a company's true culture than any mission statement or all-hands meeting ever could. They compare the generous, transparent packages offered by companies like Patagonia and Salesforce with the bare-minimum, legal-liability-focused agreements common in finance and retail....

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a severance perk that is often overlooked: outplacement career coaching. They break down what outplacement actually covers—from resume rewrites and mock interviews to LinkedIn audits and recruiter introductions—and why many laid-off employees skip it out of pride or confusion. Lucas shares a story of a marketing director at a mid-size S...

Episode 5 of the Layoff Podcast with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna dive into a surprising career trend: companies now offering severance packages in job offers — before you even start. They break down why firms are doing this (think: restructuring hygiene, layoff insurance for the new hire) and what it means for you. Lucas shares the specific case of a mid-size SaaS company that started offering two wee...